Ever since Apple confirmed that Flash wasn’t coming to the iPad the pros and cons of using Adobe’s platform in a web browser have been debated. The alternative to Flash that keeps being mentioned is HTML 5, which allows for similar functionality directly in a compatible browser without a plug-in.

HTML 5 may well do what Flash does, but proof speaks louder than words, and that’s exactly what we seem to have got. Some engineers at Google have managed to port Quake 2 allowing it to run directly in a browser.

The version in question has been ported from a Java port of Quake 2 that already existed called Jake2. The team used Google Web Toolkit, the Canvas API, WebGL, and WebSockets to recreate the game in its HTML 5 form. The results were much better than expected with versions running at 60fps on a Linux laptop, 45fps on a Mac Pro, and 25fps on a Macbook Pro.

Not only does the game run well in a compatible browser (Chrome or Safari), but sharing a game is as simple as sending someone a URL.

If you would like to try Quake 2 in your browser the code can be downloaded from Google Code

Quake 2 may be an old game, but that’s not the point. What is being demonstrated here is a full 3D game running directly in a browser at a very good frame rate. If you notice most Flash games are 2D, with limited 3D performance possible (but that’s improving).

HTML 5 seems to be hitting the ground running in terms of gaming, and no doubt it is going to become a popular way to create games. A standard install of a browser like Chrome will allow HTML 5 games to run. This also means the forthcoming Chrome OS will be compatible with all HTML 5 games and apps.

I don’t think Flash is going to disappear any time soon, but this port clearly shows it has some future competition.